擬ぎ死し

noun

feigning death; playing dead; thanatosis

Biological term for an animal's defensive behavior of pretending to be dead. Also used metaphorically for humans pretending to be dead or unresponsive.

• ある種しゅの昆こん虫ちゅうは、捕ほ食しょく者しゃに襲おそわれると擬ぎ死しをする。

  Some insects feign death when attacked by a predator.

• 彼かれは上じょう司しに叱しかられて、まるで擬ぎ死しのように黙だまり込こんだ。

  Scolded by his boss, he fell silent as if playing dead.